Lishnie Liudi was subsequently banned after publication and withdrawn from all libraries and bookshops. Zoshchenko's satirical tales had been subject to constant attack from the censors but the Soviet literary establishment grew increasingly monolithic in the 1930s.

First edition, small 8vo (18 x 12.5 cm); 115pp., illustrations by N. Radlov; original lithographed wrappers in red and black, repairs to spine, right lower corner missing to upper wrapper, some light water-staining but otherwise a good copy.